3G surfing!

I tried setting up my MacBook Pro to connect to the Internet via Smart’s 3G and apart from the third-party scripts that you need to download, everything is a cinch to setup.

I am now using it – surfing the internet, posting this blog entry, reading e-mail whilst listening to SmoothJazz streamed on iTunes. I fired up iChatAV, AdiumX and Yahoo! Messenger 3.0 Beta 1 but they could not connect. I just could be bothered to set them up since I don’t want to mess with their settings every time I switch networks. Besides, Meebo is always there.

For PhP10 (less than US$0.20) for half an hour of internet surfing it is not at all that bad. It gets even better – no data download limit the same way that the other network is charging.

This is for the ultimate road warrior and is far better than the speeds you get from PLDT’s WeRoam services. Ironically, PLDT and Smart are sisters.

Verdict: Get it! It will even be better when the HSDPA mobile phones and CardExpress/34 cards become available.

Technorati Tags: 3G

Microsoft Office: 0, OpenOffice.org: 1

Microsoft delays Office 2007 again | CNET News.com:

Microsoft said Thursday that it is making another slight delay to the planned arrival time for Office 2007, citing performance concerns with recent test versions.

The software maker now plans to finish the code for the revamped Office suite by the end of the year, with a mainstream launch in “early 2007.” It said in March that the product would be ready by this October, but said at the time it was delaying the retail availability until January, in order to jointly launch the product with Windows Vista. That operating system update has also seen postponements.

As Microsoft delays its release of Office 2007, OpenOffice.org releases version 2.0.3 with bug fixes and new features:

• performance improvements: for example, a 23 percent improvement in certain Calc benchmarks
• further improvements to file format compatibility with Microsoft Office files
• new email integration features for users wanting to send emails in Microsoft file formats
• more control over how exported PDF documents will display when opened in a PDF reader
• support for more languages and improvements in hyphenation and thesaurus
• support for Intel architecture for Mac OS X plus improved Mac OS X System integration
• built-in check for updated versions

What are you waiting for? Why test drive a product that will be available (we think) next year whilst you can test drive and own one for free today?!

Technorati Tags: OpenOffice.org

Aerith 3D Slideshow

Aerith 3D Slideshow
Originally uploaded by romainguy.

This great little app was showcased at JavaOne 06. It is based entirely on Java and uses other little tools from Yahoo! (Flickr) and Google (Maps). Check it out – source was released under the BSD license!

Leopard Wish List

Now that we are starting to see some photos (albeit photoshop’ed) and video of the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), I’ll join in and give my short wish-list before Jobs announce it this August. What is yours? Add to my list.

• iChat 4.0 with integrated Chax (tabs) and VoIP (Asterisk and SIMPLE (GTalk) compatible). With Asterisk, I will be able to login to our VoIP system.
• Integrated CodeWeavers CrossOver-like virtualization support. Although Parallels Desktop is a great third-party product, I believe that having the CrossOver solution is more elegant and more integrated.
• Xgl-like virtual desktop transitions (Quartz Extreme can handle it). Although VirtueDesktops provide an alternative, it will be far better if Mac OS X supports it natively.
• Spotlight support for boolean search using AND, OR, NOT, etc.
• Tab support for Finder.
• Meta-data display for Finder items.
• Mail with built-in GPG support.
• MailTag-like tagging for Mail.app.
• SpamSieve-like accuracy for Mail.app spam processing.
• AppZapper utility for complete application removal.
• System Rollback – this is one thing that I wish Linux and Mac OS X support but it should be better than Windows!
• Smarter Locations by automatically setting other network dependent services such as printers, SMTP, proxies, etc.
• If we can capture screenshots, maybe Mac OS X 10.5 can integrate Snapz Pro w/ Video functionality as well. It can be a QT 8.0 Pro feature but at half the price of the QT Pro 7! Heck, better to build it in to Leopard!
• MenuMeters like tools for easier monitoring.
• Built-in LittleSnitch for better firewall control.
• Safari session management (save, restore, etc.), mouse gestures (although I rarely use it but it’d be a great feature), automatic proxy configuration based on URLs defined using RegEx, more tab functions (undo close tab, closed tabs list, etc.), themes support (not critical but nice to have).
• QuickTime support for Divx and faster encoding to iPod.
• Better RSS/ATOM support for Safari.
• Download Manager for Safari.

Technorati Tags: Mac OS X

Heads-up: Quicktime, 10.4.7 New Feature, Yahoo! Messenger

Fire-up Software Update to get the latest Quicktime 7.1.2, which fixes some issue with iDVD.

Check out this new feature that was added with 10.4.7 update for the 15″ MacBook Pro. Coolness!

Finally!!!! After petitioning Yahoo! to upgrade their Yahoo! Messenger client to be at par with their Windows version, this beta of version 3 looks very promising.

Now, we can use iSight for video conferencing with other Yahoo! Messenger clients. I have yet to test it but will do so soon!

Yes, this means that I am re-activating my Yahoo! Messenger as one of my preferred IM along with iChatAV. I guess this also means that AdiumX might not be used that often anymore.

Technorati Tags: Mac OS X

Heads-up: 10.4.7 Out!

Fire up Software Update and get the latest and greatest version of Tiger!

Technorati Tags: Mac OS X

MacBook Pro defects

A wiki is now available for those who have experienced problems with their MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The thing is, apart from the low sound volume and heat, I have not experienced any of the other problems listed. Hmmm…

Technorati Tags: MacBook Pro

Why can’t the Phil. government do this?

Taiwan mandates Linux-ready PCs – Software – News – ZDNet Asia:

Taiwan has mandated that all PCs purchased for government use must now be compatible with the Linux operating system.

According to media reports, the new requirement came into effect last month, marking the start of efforts to boost adoption of open-source software in Taiwan. About 120,000 new desktop PCs acquired by the Taiwan government will have to comply with the new mandate, the reports stated.

How can the Philippines move forward using ICT? Well, if you make the complete computer system affordable, then it will help move us forward. This does not only mean the outright purchase like the way some organizations are doing but it means that the complete and total cost of ownership should be low. Software powers the computer and more often than not, these are pirated by Filipinos.

Software piracy is not unique to home users only. Businesses as well as, sad to say, government agencies pirate their software. I know, I have seen them myself! First reason, they cannot afford to buy licenses. Shesh! If you cannot afford it, then use an affordable alternative. SIMPLE!

However, shifting to Linux, the affordable alternative, and open source applications is not easy if the computer is not compatible with Linux. Although this is becoming a rarity, there are still computers out there that are using Windows-only modems, etc. How do you ensure compatibility? Do what Taiwan did!

Technorati Tags: Linux

Gripes about the MacBook Pro

It isn’t all good news! Whilst I do advocate Java, Mac and Linux (and Open Systems and Open Standards), I do have some gripes about some of them as well.
For starters, I have the 2.0GHz 15″ MacBook Pro. I do love the power that it provides, which is a far cry from the 1.67GHz PowerPC-based 15″ Powerbook that I had before. However, this is not perfect, of course. Although I do not have the issues that plagued the other MacBook Pro’s but I do have 2 issues with mine.

First, the heat. Whilst the Powerbook can get very warm, the MacBook Pro gets warmer. It is true that sometimes it is too hot to touch – well, the metal space between the keyboard and the hinge. It is a good thing, though, that you do not get to touch it often. The left hand side (where the charger is) also gets warm, specially when charging. I don’t know but maybe it is because I do not have air-conditioning but the thing is, I barely hear the MacBook Pro fans turn on. I thought that it was malfunctioning but Hardware Test indicated that everything is a-ok.

Second, the speakers. Some folks say that their 17″ MacBook Pro gives superb audio output. Mine is too soft. The old Powerbook is louder than this one. I do not know if this is by design but I am hoping that 10.4.7 will solve this problem as well. I know that it is a matter of software since VLC provides louder output than QuickTime Player.

Despite these two issues that I have with my MacBook Pro, it is still the best portable computer available in the market today. I do wish that Apple decides to release a 13″ MacBook Pro with a dedicated video card but I guess that will not happen with the “family” already complete.
Another issue, although not directly hardware related, is the availability of cases. The 15″ MacBook Pro is a tad wider than the 15″ Powerbook so not all bags can accommodate it. My 1 year old Brenthaven backpack’s sleeves can barely accommodate the MacBook Pro. You can squeeze it in but it will not provide a complete and 100% protection. Oh well.

There are bags that are locally available, such as the Crumpler bags. However, the design of the bags got some rather unpleasant comments from my boss (the wife, who else?!). A friend highly recommended the Timbuk2 and since it is not available locally, I ordered it online. I highly recommend getting the Timbuk2 Commute for your 15″ MacBook Pro – it fits perfectly with lots of room to spare for your charger, mouse, etc. In fact, mine still has a lot of space even if I carry far more than I used to when I was using the Brenthaven.

How about you? Any issues with your MacBook/MacBook Pro? What bag do you use?

Technorati Tags: MacBook Pro, timbuk2

Is Microsoft Paranoid?

I do not know what Microsoft is thinking here – are they too paranoid about security or do they think that Windows users are too dumb? Or is this Microsoft’s way to compensate the lack of security in all their previous operating systems?
I believe that everyone thinks this is overkill on the part of Microsoft but if this appeared on the beta, I am wondering why they did not just reduce it to 2 pop-up windows to confirm the deletion. I mean, if the user does not have the privilege to delete it, prompt for Administrator access (username and password) and then prompt for final confirmation before it gets deleted.
There is nothing wrong with confirming any file deletion. This is one gripe against Linux and other Unix-based system that allows users access to the CLI. Delete really means delete! Unless you have properly setup aliases for the shell commands, there will be no confirmation and worse, there is no way to recover it since the file gets really deleted and not moved to the Trash bin.

Personally, I think Microsoft users do not deserve this kind of a treatment. It is rather silly but hey, this is what you get by sticking with Windows-based operating systems! Hehehe. Switch to either Linux or Mac and you will be better off! What the hell are you waiting for?

Technorati Tags: Vista